Behind the Palace: President Bassirou Diomaye Faye Faces a New Dilemma

Senegal’s National Assembly rejected the 2026 revised finance bill by 109 votes to 20, with three abstentions, ending its examination. The proposal projected budget resources of 5,848.7 billion CFA francs and a deficit of 1,735.2 billion, or 7.6% of GDP, while energy subsidies rose to 790.3 billion. Economy Minister Cheikh Diba said President Bassirou Diomaye Faye would take the necessary steps to implement key measures, but the president must decide whether to resume dialogue, act through administrative means, or eventually consider dissolution. The bill also protected investment spending, allocated 300 billion CFA francs to clear domestic arrears, and provided 70 billion for targeted social transfers.